GIT Commands Every Developer Should Know

Git is one of the most powerful tools every developer uses — whether you’re working on solo projects or collaborating with a team. It helps you track changes, collaborate efficiently, and maintain clean version control. However, with so many commands available, it can be tricky to know where to start.

In this post, we’ll cover the most essential Git commands every developer should know — from basic setup to advanced branching.

1. Initialize a Repository

git init

Creates a new Git repository in your current directory. This is the first step to start tracking your project.

2. Clone an Existing Repository

git clone <repository_url>

Copies a remote repository (for example, from GitHub) to your local machine.

Tracking and Saving Changes

3. Check Repository Status

git status

Displays which files are staged, unstaged, or untracked — essential for seeing what’s going on.

4. Add Files to Staging

git add <file_name>

Adds specific files to the staging area. Use git add . to add all modified files.

5. Commit Changes

git commit -m "Your commit message"

Saves your staged changes with a message describing what you did. Example:

git commit -m "Fix login bug and update UI"

6. View Commit History

git log

Displays a list of previous commits with their unique IDs and messages.

Working with Remote Repositories

7. Add a Remote Repository

git remote add origin <repository_url>

Connects your local repo to a remote one (like GitHub or GitLab).

8. Push Changes to Remote

git push origin main

Uploads your commits to the remote repository’s main branch.

9. Pull Latest Changes

git pull

Fetches and merges updates from the remote repository into your local branch.

Branching and Merging

10. Create a New Branch

git branch <branch_name>

Creates a new branch — ideal for working on features without touching the main codebase.

11. Switch to a Branch

git checkout <branch_name>

Moves you to a different branch. (You can also create and switch in one go with git checkout -b <branch_name>.)

12. Merge Branches

git merge <branch_name>

Combines the specified branch into your current one — typically merging a feature branch into main.

Undoing Mistakes

13. Discard Local Changes (Unstaged)

git checkout -- <file_name>

Reverts a file back to the last committed version.

14. Unstage a File

git reset <file_name>

Removes a file from the staging area but keeps its changes in the working directory.

15. Revert a Commit

git revert <commit_id>

Creates a new commit that undoes the changes made by a previous commit — safer than deleting history.

Bonus Tips

• Use git stash to temporarily save changes without committing.
• Use git diff to compare changes between commits or branches.
• Use git tag to mark important versions (like v1.0).

Conclusion

Mastering these Git commands will make your workflow faster, cleaner, and more collaborative. Even though Git can feel intimidating at first, understanding these basics will cover 90% of what you’ll need in everyday development.

Pro Tip: The more you use Git, the more comfortable it becomes — so don’t be afraid to experiment and break things (that’s what version control is for!).